All Chapters of The Hurricanes: After the Kiss: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

-Isabella-  I walked back toward the ballroom where the charity gala was held. I passed by fancy people in fancy clothes, but none of that even phased me.It was Damian's presence that had me in a chokehold. It's like when he's near, the only thing I can focus on is him. His gaze, his aura... I really like him. I would love nothing more than to let myself enjoy this feeling. Drown in it. Get high on it. But I can not. Because of Mark, because of Emma, because of every single one of the problems I have faced that are having me in debt and in the gutter.

-Isabella-The lights over the crowd heads dimmed down and the stage lights brightened. Screens disguised as paintings flickered to life on several points across the side walls, and would be showing photos of the items set for auction any minute now, I presume. "Get your paddles ready, ladies and gentlemen." The host joked and the crowd chuckled in that rich, dry tone. It was anything but sincere.I shook my head faintly in disapproval. "For some of the newcomers... I will repeat the rules. If your bid is the last one called, the item is yours. And so is the bill." He noted with a hollow chuckle as the people behind him arranged a display table. "As usual, we will start small. The first item is a month-long vacation for two on the Amalfi coast in the region of Campania, the city of Naples, Italy. The courtesy of Borderline, Inc. And their owner Samuel Reid. We'll open the bids at a small, significant amount, ten thousand dollars." A small sum. Really. But to the crowd that was a

-Isabella- "I chose the room for you." He waits for my reaction, but I'm stuck in one position. Eyes wide, mouth parted in surprise, shock. Thoughts running a mile a minute.Damian watches me with certainty. Decisiveness. His face is not a mask, like when we have an audience. It's an open book for me to read. He's with me in the moment. He wants a reaction.But then I laugh. His face twists in surprise. I laugh loudly, unapologetically. The sound echoing off the walls of the room. It's the type of laugh where your stomach muscles hurt, your eyes water and you don't even know if you're crying or laughing anymore."Excuse me..." I wipe the corners of my eyes, drying off the tears of laughter. "I thought I heard you say..."Another burst of laughter breaks free. Unrestrained. I slap my knee through the fabric of my dress as I laugh harder. I haven't laughed this much or this loudly in a little over a year.He huffs out and can't help but smile as he watches me, his head tilted t

-Damian- Her slender fingers fumble with the buttons of my shirt, as soon as she's done I yank it off my shoulders and down my arms tossing it somewhere in the room behind me. I connect our lips in a kiss once more, my hand roving over the curves of her body. Memorizing the feel of her in my arms. I have never wanted anyone as badly as I want her. I haven't done this in a long, long while. I've put a firm distance between myself and women knowing my fate and what I'm supposed to do. I was firm in my belief. Firm in what my father made me believe was right. After his death my mother only deepened that belief up inside of me. I was good at it. Ignoring women. Ignoring temptations.Until I saw this green-eyed goddess in my hands. She made all of my defenses crumble with one look and made me a mad man. A man unable to think clearly when she's next to me. Unable to forget about her.Her hands roam my chest, to my shoulders, down my arms and back. Her touch makes me shiver despite mys

-Isabella-I started to shift in the morning, however, I'm unable to move due to the pressure at my waist. The heat on my back is unbearable. I open my eyes and look downwards only to see a hand propped on the mattress and an arm around my waist. The events of last night come back to me in pieces. His body on me. My back arching into him.Our climax together.My name on his lips.And sometime later when I had fallen asleep, a soft blanket landed on my body. I look over my shoulder, and see a crown of messy, black hair. Despite myself I smile and turn around in his arms to look at him. His face is calm. Relaxed. The prominent wrinkles and crinkles on his face are nowhere to be seen in the morning light. In this state he seems younger, boyish even. The same strand that always seems to frame his face is still there. Falling onto his forehead like a quiet rebellion among the head of perfectly styled hair. I trace my finger down his cheek and he doesn't even stir against the sensat